WHAT IF IBM DID THE UNTHINKABLE?

..and don't think they haven't thought about it. Those pillars which have timelessly supported the experienced AS/400 community's professional life. They've dangled on the edge of the support cliff for years and all IBM would have to do is give it a little nudge, and off it would go. Fact is, nobody but IBM really knows when they will end support on old favorites liked PDM, DDS and RPG III. We know they haven't been updated in 15 years. And unlike the coyote, they won't dust themselves off at the base of the cliff and live to see another episode. IBM has started its nudge in i6.1 by repackaging the most mature components in what's known as the Heritage Tools - a separate and chargeable feature. Remember, they will stop at nothing to get you to ditch that green screen. It's only a matter of time before the cord gets cut altogether. It could be in i6.2 for all we know - the question is, what will YOU do to prepare for it?

A good place to start would be by adopting the Eclipse based Rational Developer for i. IBM has gone to GREAT lengths to make this product friendly to the PDM savvy community, but the community has not reciprocated by giving it the time of day. They all cried out for change at the ballot box, as long as it meant they didn't have to change. Sound familiar? Not to worry. GEMKO is hosting a half day, hands on workshop on May 27th to help you get started with RDi. "Started" is the operative word here - you need the resolve to make sure the word "Finished" isn't in the same sentence. That's what makes worthwhile "change" possible.

Enrollment in this unique workshop is very affordable, even in this economy. Especially if it gets the ball rolling toward a steady diet of improvements, it very well might be the best chump change your company has invested in years.

So, what would YOU do if IBM did the unthinkable?

Thanks for sharing. Chris.